2/11/2012

The latest lottery for members of the W Club is an European exclusive Giselle called Glam Addict. This doll is very beautiful and has a stylish fashion that comes with additional shoes and accessories. It's being called a mini giftset. The price for US and Canadian customers is $150. plus either $15. or $25. respectively for shipping. The price for the rest of the world is EU 140 ($185.33) + EU 30 ($40.) for shipping. The difference in price has many Europeans howling with dismay. After all, if this is a European exclusive, why are the Europeans paying so much more? The answer was a mixture of shipping costs, VAT, customs and whatever other taxes and duties exist. Laurence explained that she is pre-paying certain of these fees which would normally fall to the buyers and so these costs must be passed on. It's quite a burden for overseas collectors. But...maybe they don't have to pay for health insurance. Perhaps their income taxes are proportionally lower. There's always some other benefit to offset these issues.

The lottery closes on February 14. I have entered but my luck in the
past 3 years has not been good. This is probably the best looking
Giselle so far and I don't have any in my collection. I would restyle
her hair done in a more glamorous Hollywood style to suit the fashion.

Designed by Linda Kyaw, released on 2/8 and on backorder until 3/8/2012. Price $100.

Description:Sure to make waves wherever she goes, Mermaid Barbie®
doll wears a sheer bodice accented with beads and rhinestones in
iridescent blue and silver. Iridescent paillettes create the first half
of her shimmery tail ending with two different shades of pleated
organza.

Pretty picture, isn't it? I would like to see this doll in person. She comes with the rock display but the ad says she cannot stand alone as shown. I know many Barbie collectors do not remove their dolls from the boxes and this one is definitely a 'stay-in-the-box' doll. I can see this as a lovely 8X10 print for a doll room.

2/08/2012

An announcement signed by Mary T of Mary T's Doll House was sent out earlier this evening. Here is the text:

I
just wanted to write and update everyone on what is happening at Mary
T's Doll House. I have had a great time being a doll dealer, but the
time has come to move onward and forward. As a result, I will be
shutting the shop down. This is not an easy decision, but one that is
right for me.

I have decided not to carry any of the 2012 lines and Integrity is aware that I declined my allocations.

My website will remain active for awhile so that I can sell remaining stock.

I
have had a wonderful 14 years as a dealer and I thank each and every
customer for supporting me all these years. I am still a collector at
heart, so I hope to stay in touch with many of you as I consider you all
not just customers, but my friends.

Membership for the 2012 season in the Barbie Fan Club opened today for current members. New members may begin to register on February 15. This year all members will received a Silkstone dress form.

That's a big step up from a mouse pad. Of course you will also get your membership card.

Every 3 months you get a $20. credit towards a purchase. There have been occasions when it was more than $20. You cannot save up your credits as each expires at the end of the quarter in which it is granted.

Membership is $24.95. This year I was charged $2. tax for the first time. Soon I will have to pay tax on the air I breathe.

I have a challenge to the sleuths. Find sources for the clothes Jason Wu
designed before he left the new crop of designers in charge. Did he copy or design?? Go back 5 or more years to the Fashion Royalty dolls
outfits.

There will always be similar parts of fashion from one item to another. But as you can see below, there is no mistaking where the dolls' outfits came from. That's what I want you to look for.

A fashion sleuth over at Dolly Daily, corvas, posted these images. The interpretations are amazingly similar. There's no doubt as to the source of the clothes for these dolls.

2/07/2012

I'm turning into a lazy photographer. I'd rather take stupid iPhone photos than go into my studio and do the real thing. I'm lazy in the studio, too. I had a handbag to sell so I hung up a contrasting piece of fabric and shot some pictures. Then instead of changing the background to suit the dolls I wanted to photograph, I decided to leave it. Blech. I knew it wasn't working almost immediately but didn't do anything to change it. It's a good thing I'm not doing this for money. On the other hand, if I were getting paid, perhaps I'd be less lazy.

Here you have a lesson in how backgrounds can ruin photographs. Ugh. I don't even want to talk about how much work it was to pull these images out. The last one, of course, has had it's background completely Photoshopped.
In the second picture of Dasha I desaturated the yellow tones. Compare it to the picture that follows and you will see what I mean. Both dresses are the same color IRL.
The dresses on Dasha and Elise are by Cholo. Vanessa is the former Intoxicating Mix rerooted. She is wearing Ayumi's outfit. That is also Ayumi's FR2 body. Ayumi's (ugly) head is on the way to Italy.

2/05/2012

I think it's a great copy. I wonder how they get away with
it. Apparently iconic images are not copyrighted. What about fashions?

I ordered this Monogram doll because of the outfit and it doesn't
bother me that it was copied. I just can't believe that there is no
copyright protection. I remember that a few years ago Jason Wu got
involved in some kind of movement to protect designers' work. The
copying of designs for dolls was brought up on the boards shortly after
that. I think that movement sort of fizzled.

My Favorite iPhone Photos

Stat Counter

Best Fashion Blog Award

Black Holes

When I switched photo servers a year ago, many of my images were lost in a black hole. If you are going back in time throughout my blog, you will come across these black holes. It's unfortunate but it would take me a huge amount of time to identify and republish the images. If there is a specific one you are very interested in, email me with the date of the post and I will try to get it for you.Thanks for your continued interest in my blog!Terri